Coin controlled mechanism for vending machines



Jan. 7, 1941. fp. MERGENS 2,227,663

GOIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Feb. 26, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l mmr'u v v INVENTOR eorje .4 @gexra. 151W [1.1M

' ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1941. p MERGENS 2,227,663

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Feb. 26, 1938 3 Sheets-Shee t 2 7% INVENTOR eaxye fi. dleryems! M ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1941. R R N 2,227,663

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES FiledFeb. 26, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR yea/ye P /%z/ye/rs.

M ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES New York Application February 26, 1938, Serial No. 192,725

Claims.

My invention relates to means for releasing the selectively operable mechanisms of vending machines for operation in the presence of the proper coin or check, and the same has for its object 5 to provide a simple, efiicient and reliable apparatus in which the coin controlled mechanism thereof is operated to release a selected mechanism by a substantially straight line movement of a member operated by the selected mechanism upon the actuation thereof; and in which said coin controlled mechanism is operated with dispatch upon repeated operations of a selected mechanism.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the means associated with the several selectively operable mechanisms for preventing operation of more than one thereof at a time serves as the actuator for the coin controlled mechanism to release for vending operation any selectively operable mechanism when the same is actuated in the presence of the proper coin.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the means for preventing operation of more than one of the selectively operable mechanisms at a time is capable of being reciprocatecl by a selected mechanism to actuate the coin controlled mechanism while functioning to prevent 39 operation of the remaining selectively operable mechanisms.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which locking means in said coin controlled 35 mechanism is released by a camming action thereof against the coin upon actuation thereof by said reciprocating means.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified 40 in which said coin controlled mechanism includes means for supporting the coin in latch actuating position and capable of being actuated by the reciprocating means after the unlocking operation is completed for discharging the coins into a proper receptacle.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the coin controlled mechanism includes means for retaining superimposed coins in the do chute leading to said mechanism from passing into operative position until the previous operation is substantially completed and the parts are returned to normal position.

Further, said invention has for its object to 455 provide an apparatus of the character specified in which means associated with the several selectively operable mechanisms are co-ordinated in operation with the coin-controlled mechanism to require the completion of the stroke of the actuating means therefor after the unlocking is effected and before the return of said actuating means to normal position can be eifected.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which said coin supporting member is capable of 10 being actuated for returning a coin lodged in the mechanism to the person operating the machine, if so desired.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and then pointed out in the in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation with parts broken awayof one form of apparatus constructed according to and embodying my said invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof taken on the line '2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section thereof taken on the line 4--'4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section thereof taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. dis a similar section thereof taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a similar section thereof taken on the line 'l--l of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 6 illustrating in broken lines the locking detent clearing the stop;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section thereof taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section thereof taken on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section thereof taken on the line lI-'-H of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective of a detail of the coin controlled mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, my invention is shown incorporated in a vending machine having the usual casing H] for enclosing any suitable type of apparatus or operating mechanism for dispensing the articles or objects to be vended. As one example merely, the apparatus illustrated is like that shown, described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 192,724, filed by me February 26, 1938. The apparatus or machine illustrated comprises a supporting structure including spaced vertically extending partions l2 forming therebetween a series of magazines or compartments I3. The articles or packages to be vended or dispensed are individually supported upon a series of pivoted shelves or supports l4 arranged within the magazine l3 one above the other in spaced relation and normally retained locked in horizontal or supporting position. The shelves l4, beginning with the lowermost, are adapted to be successively released by the usual travelling means for discharging the articles or packages through the chute |5 for delivery at the opening It in the front of the casing IS.

The dispensing means for the several compartments l3 are individually actuated by selectively operable mechanisms each including a movable shaft l8, preferably rotatably mounted in bearings in the frame structure U, and extending rearwardly and horizontally into position for actuating the dispensing means upon rotation of the shaft I8. .The several dispensing or actuating means do not constitute a feature of the present invention and therefore illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. The several actuating shafts I8 extend through the casing H3 at the front thereof, and are provided with the manual members or knobs IQ for effecting the rotation thereof.

In the present invention, I preferably provide means associated with the several selectively operable mechanisms I! for preventing actuation of more than one thereof at a time, and serving also as an actuator for the coin controlled locking mechanism 2|. The means 20 includes a transverse guideway 2'2 on the lower portion of the front of the frame member having a front panel 23 extending below and beyond the guideway 22. A member or slide 24 of a length substantially co-extensive with the Width of the apparatus is slidably disposed in the guideway 22 at the back thereof, and the separate, alined elements or blocks 25 and 259. are disposed in said guideway in front of said slide 24 for movement relative to each other and relative to and with the slide 24. The elements 25 and 25a are normally retained in engagement With each other at the contiguous ends thereof with the left hand one thereof, looking at Fig. 1, in engagement with a stop 26 fixed on the front of the slide 24 at the contiguous end thereof by a spring 21 secured at one end to the element 258, and at its opposite end to a pin 28 fixed to the panel 23 inwardly of the element 25a. The element 252. is provided with a pin 29 at the inner side thereof extending into and riding in a slot 30 formed in the contiguous end of the slide 24 and normally engaging the inner end 3| thereof when the elements 25, 25a and 26 are in engagement with each other at the contiguous ends, said slot 3|] forming at the opposite end 32 a stop and being of a length allowing a predetermined limited movement of the elements 25, 25a.

relative to each other and relative to the slide 24 as hereinafter more fully described. The juncture edges between the elements 25, 25a and between the stop 26 and the contiguous element 25 are beveled at the lower portions thereof to form recesses 33 adapted to receive the rollers 34 carried by the outer ends of the arms or fingers 35 secured to the selector shafts I8 in front of the panel 23, said rollers riding in arcuate slots 36 formed in the panel 23 and being normally aligned with said recesses 33 at the lower ends of said slots 35.

The coins for allowing operation of the vending machine are inserted, one or more at a time, into a coin .chute 31 communicating with the coin controlled mechanism 2|. The discharge end 38 of the chute has a width in the plane of the coin substantially equal to the diameter thereof and an upper portion 39 has a relatively enlarged width in the same plane so that the coins assume a zigzag formation therein to allow a greater number of coins at a time to occupy the space within a chute of given height.

The chute or coin passage 31 is supported at the lower end thereof upon the top 40 of an enclosure 4| secured to the contiguous side of the frame member II with said top lying substantially in the plane of the upper edges of said member 24 and said element 25a, the latter two extending into the enclosure 4| thereof. The chute 37 includes a front face member 42 having a base flange 43 secured by screws or other devices 44 to the top 40, and a rear face member 45 secured to the front member 42 by suitable securing means 46. The face members 42 and 45 are provided with vertically spaced recesses 41 and 48, and 49 and 50 respectively in the lower portions of the forward vertical edges thereof, the recesses 4'! and 49 and 48 and respectively being aligned to provide clearances 5| and pivotally connected at its rear end to said top as indicated at 53. The opposite end of the coin supporting member or gate 52 is also supported fromthe top 40 for swinging movement relative thereto by a headed member 54 secured to the member 52 and riding in an arcuate slot formed in said top 40. The member 52 is preferably provided with a .coin supporting horizontal portion 56 of reduced area normally registering with the central portion of the slot 5|, and retained in registering position by means of a spring 51 secured at the ends thereof to the pivoted member 52 and to a fixed part respectively. The engagement of the headed member 54 with the end of the slot 55 limits the movement of the pivoted member 52 under the action of the spring 51 to retain the gate 52 in slot closing position. The gate or support 52 at the side thereof opposite said portion 56 has downwardly directed portions or lugs 58 and 59 adapted to be engaged by suitable actuating means for moving the same against the tension of the spring 51 out of coin supporting position as hereinafter described so. as to allow the discharge of the coin through the slot 5|.

at the front The movable part of the coin controlled, locking mechanism 2| is carried by the means 20 and is actuated by the movement thereof transversely of the machine upon actuation of any one of the selector shafts l8. Preferably the element or member 259. is provided with an angular supporting extension 60 including an upwardly extending vertical portion 6! and a rearwardly extending horizontal portion 62 serving as a support for the locking detent 63, and also serving when actuated as means adapted to enter the aligned clearance recesses 41 and 49 on a horizontal plane located. between the lowermost coin and the next to the lowermost coin, for supporting the upper coins after the lowermost coin is discharged, until the mechanism has completed its operation, and the support 52 has returned to coin supporting position. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the advance edge 64 of the portion 62 is normally out of the passage of the chute 31, and, as shown in Fig. 3, the rear edge 65 thereof upon actuation of the member 259. will assume a position preventing the coins above the lowermost from dropping to the lowermost position, after the lowermost coin is discharged, until the member 62 withdraws from the chute passage 31 upon the return thereof.

The locking detent or member 63 is pivotally supported at one end, indicated at 66, from the portion 62 at the lower side thereof, and extends towards the coin chute 3! in position for engaging upon actuation of the mechanism, the contiguous edge 61 of the vertical member 68, forming a fixed stop at the opposite side of the coin passage 31 for preventing further movement of the selected actuating shaft l8 in the absence of the proper coin. The member 68 above the stop edge 61 extends inwardly past the coin passage 3'! to provide a guiding and stop portion 69 adapted to be engaged by a pin 10 secured to the detent 63, said detent being held in proper position with the guide 69 and pin 10 in engagement by means of a spring H secured at one end to the vertical portion GI and extending around the edge thereof and into engagement with the edge of said detent 63. When the detent 63 is positioned and directed as above described, upon actuation thereof in the absence of a proper coin to coact therewith, the tapered nose or end 12 moves through the aligned clearance recesses 50 and 48 until the detent strikes the stop Bl, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 6. When the proper coin is in place within the lower end of the chute passage 31, upon actuation of the detent 63, the tapered nose 12 thereof engages the relatively fixed coin to swing the detent against the tension of the spring H to the position shown in broken lines, Fig. 8, for clearing the stop 61. A pin 13 projects inwardly from the guide member 24 in position to engage the lug 53 depending from the coin supporting member 52 for causing the discharge of the coin after the unlocking operation is completed.

The control means 2! also includes a manually operable means M for actuating the gate 52 and effecting the return of the coins upon the discharge thereof through the slot 5| over a different path to the person operating the machine. The manual means 14 includes a rearwardly extending rotatable shaft 15 disposed within the enclosure M below the member 52, and. below the members 2 1 and 25a near the ends thereof. The means M is retained in and returned to normal position by a spring 76. The

shaft 15 has secured thereto a gate or slide chute ll disposed below the slot 5| normally in positionfor directing the coins therefrom into the chute 18 for delivery to the coin receptacle [9. Should the operator desire the return of a coin inserted into the chute 3?, the manual means I4 is rotated in a clock-wise direction to swing the gate ll to the position shown in broken lines, Fig. 11. The end of the member Tl during the swinging movement from normal position engages the depending lug 59 on the support 52 in the path thereof to actuate the support 52 and cause the discharge of the coin or coins through the slot 55 uncovered as a result of the actuation. The coins are now directed by the member 11 into the chute 39 for delivery to the operator through a slot 8| at the front of the machine.

In order to prevent operation of any selector mechanism while the coin returning means 14 is being actuated, or vice versa, the slide element 25a, or both said slide element 25a and slide 24 co-operate with means 32 upon the shaft 15 adapted to lock said shaft against rotation upon actuation of the element 25a and to prevent actuation of the element 2% when said manual return means is actuated. The means 82 preferably comprises a circular member secured to the shaft 75 below the actuating elements 24 and 25a substantially in the vertical plane thereof. The member 82 in the normal position thereof is provided with a flat portion 83 at the top thereof substantially in the line with the lower edges of theelement 25s so that upon actuation of said element to unlock the apparatus the element overlies and substantially engages the flat 83 to prevent the rotation of the shaft l5 until the dispensing operation is completed. The contiguous ends of the members 24 and 252. are preferably beveled at 8%. Should the coin returning shaft "i5 be rotated with the actuating elements as and Big. in normal position, the circular portion 85 moves into the path of movement of said element 25a and serves as a stop to prevent the actuation thereof.

In operation, when a proper coin is lodged in the locking mechanism 2 l, the selected element I8 is rotated clockwise to cause the roller 34 to enter the corresponding recess 33 and move the elements 25 and 25.. in advance thereof. The resulting movement of the member 25c. causes thesupporting member 62 to enter the coin passage 3'! for the purpose above described and advances the locking detent 63 into engagement with the edge of the coin as above described. The detent 63 is then deflected by the coin so as to clear the stop Bl as the advancing movement of the mechanism is continued. In the meantime the element 259. moves relative to the slide member 24 until the pin 29 on the element 25a engages the end 30 of the slot in the slide 2t. As such position is attained the several elements 25, 25s become wedged by the roller 34 to prevent relative movement between said parts, and hence preclude actuation of the remaining or other selector elements l8. As the rotation of the originally actuated. selector element I3 is continued the slide 24 together with said element 25s move as a unit to complete the unlocking and dispensing operation. After the detent 63 engages the coin, the full stroke device clears the stop 6?, the detent bears against theforward side of the portion 68 and the coin has then performed its function. Thereupon the pin 13 moves into engagement with the lug 58 on the gate 52 to swing the same from coin supporting position below the slot 5| and release the coin which passes to the receptacle i9. The retaining portion 62 prevents the next coin from passing into the coin controlled mechanism. When the gate 52 is actuated the full stroke device 86 releases to allow the return of the parts to normal position, the return movement effecting the dispensing operation for delivering the article or goods to be vended. Any coin supported by the member 62 is then released and passes to operative position on the supporting portion 55 of the gate 52. Should any selector shaft It; be rotated when no coin is supported in the control mechanism 2| limited movement of the detent 63 is permitted until the pin 29 on the member 255. strikes the end 30 of the slot to preclude further movement of said member relative to the slide 24. The detent 63 thereupon engages the stop Bl to prevent further movement, the stopping position being attained before the full stroke device 86 becomes operative to prevent return of the parts to normal position without operating the dispensing means.

In my invention, the means serving to prevent operation of more than one selectively operable mechanism at a time is utilized as an actuator for releasing the locking means in the presence of the coin to allow the dispensation of the article or object to be vended, and the release of the locking means and the discharge of the controlling coin into its proper receptacle is effected in proper order by a substantially straight line movement of said actuator.

I also include simple means for manually controlling the return of the coin or coins to the operator, if he so desires, said manual means and the unlocking mechanism being coordinated to prevent operation of one when the other is operated.

By my invention, the number of operating parts is reduced, the structure is simplified and rendered more compact, and efiiciency in operation is attained, the control mechanism being particularly responsive to rapid successive actuations of the selector elements for dispensing the goods with dispatch.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality of movable selector elements, means for preventing operation of more than one of said selector elements at a time including a reciprocating means, coin controlled, locking mechanism serving to normally limit the movement of said reciprocating means and actuated thereby in the presence of a coin to allow full movement of said reciprocating means, means for supporting the control coin in position in said mechanism, said supporting means being actuated by said reciprocating means to discharge the coin over one path into a space within the machine, means for manually actuating said coin supporting means including a member for directing the coin over another path to be returned, and means on said last named means adapted to be engaged by said reciprocating means to lock the manual means against movement, said last named means upon actuation of said return vmeans serving as a stop to prevent movement of the reciprocating means.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a plurality of dispensing mechanisms, manually operable means associated with each of the dispensing mechanisms for actuating said mecha nisms upon rotation through a predetermined distance, means for preventing the operation at onetime of all but a selected one of said manuallyoperable means including a chamber arranged adjacent said manually operable means, a bar slidably arranged within said chamber, a plurality of elements in end to end separable arrangementslidably carried within said chamber adjacent said bar, a wedge carried radially on each of. said manually operable means, one of saidwedges positioned adjacent contiguous ends of a pair of said separable elements, each Wedge upon rotation of the selected manually-operable means a distance less than the hereinbefore mentioned predetermined distance adapted to engage one of said pair of separable members to separate said pair of separable elements, upon rotation of the selected manually operable means a distance less than the hereinbefore mentioned predetermined distance, to separate the two separable elements adjacent thereto, means cooperating with said bar ,for limiting to the width of one wedge the distance of separation of the therein separated elements, said limiting means engaged by one of said slidable elements upon the said separation of the pair of separated elements, said selected manually operable means upon further rotation thereof thereby adapted to move the wedge interposed between the separable elements, the separable elements and the bar as a unit.

3 In apparatus of the character described, a plurality of movable selector elements, said elements being adapted to be moved a predetermineddistance, means for preventing the operation of all but a selected one of said selector elements at-a time, including a guideway, a bar slidably arranged within the guideway, a plurality'of separable elements arranged adjacent the bar, a wedging means carried on each selector element, one of said wedging means arranged adjacent one of said separable elements and adapted upon movement of a selected selector element a distance less than the predetermined distance to separate a pair of the separable elements, means cooperating with the bar for limiting the distance of separation of the separable elements to the thickness of one wedging means, said limiting means engaged by one of said separable elements upon the separation of a pair of these separable elements, the selected selector element upon further movement thereof thereby arranged to move the wedging means, the separable elements, and the bar as a unit.

-. 4.In apparatus of. the character described having a plurality of dispensing mechanisms, a chamber, a plurality of adjacent separable elements corresponding in number to the number of dispensing mechanisms and slidably carried within said chamber, means for sliding one of said elements within the chamber to separate said element from an adjacent element, movable means arranged within said chamber for limiting to a predetermined distance the separation of said separable elements, said limiting means, upon separation of said separable elements, arranged to be engaged by one of said separable elements and thereby adapted to be moved therewith as a unit.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of movable selector elements, said elements being adapted to be moved a predetermined distance, means for preventing the operation of all but a selected one of said selector elements at one time including a guideway, a bar slidably arranged within the guideway, a plurality of adjacent members arranged in the guideway and each slidable therewithin, a wedging means carried on each selector element, one of said wedging means arranged adjacent one of the members, each wedging means, upon movement of the selector element, on which it is carried, a distance less than the said predetermined distance, adapted to engage the said member adjacent the said wedging means and slide said member engaged thereby within the guideway, means cooperating with the bar for limiting the distance which said member is slid in the guideway by said wedging means to the thickness of one wedging means, the selector element upon further movement thereof arranged to move the wedging means, the separable elements and the bar as a unit.

GEORGE P. MERGENS. 

